How to tell where the mud/sand is from reading the water

[Crabslayer]

Boy, you fellas sure know how to take something simple and make it complicated.

[mikeforrest]

Boy, you fellas sure know how to take something simple and make it complicated.

Where in S Jersey can I crab off a bridge this sunday 10-4? That's simple?

[Mr. Ray III]

Where in S Jersey can I crab off a bridge this sunday 10-4? That's simple?

[Sam Hill] if you stay in NJ, you can go to any one of them...

[phillyfireman]

Is a sandy bottom prefered over a muddy bottom when troting?

For me it has been,but from what I'm reading, at this time of the year, the mud might be what you want.

[chesapeak]

They are heading that way.

[CrabbyLAD]

I once asked an old timer Comm. this very same question......

He told me right now you want to be on the "hard-pack" son.
 That morning I had my limit in no time. 

Nothing like technology!  Sonar is key when you can adjust
the sensitivity...   He also told me in the old days when he
was trying new areas. He would use a long pole and prob
the bottom... He was like a book of knowledge

[dfran]

This season has been horrible with the trottline for me It seems to often I would set it in soft mud and the crab activity was next to zero. If there was a way to tell from the surface, what might be on the bottom would make it a lot easier picking a productive spot. For instance around bends,coves or a narrowing of a waterway(river).   Any help would be appreciated, thank's 

All I can tell you is the 6 1/2 bushel we caught on the charter on 10/2 were all caught in thick mud. We were using clam bags and they were covered with mud when they came off the bottom.

[R D]

All I can tell you is the 6 1/2 bushel we caught on the charter on 10/2 were all caught in thick mud. We were using clam bags and they were covered with mud when they came off the bottom.

Getting ready to sleep for the winter in it.